Iraq Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi Sunday appeared to signal that his country needs more U.S. help in its war against the Islamic State extremist group, warning regional forces might not be able to withstand the offensive.

Top U.S. military leaders fully supported the decision to exchange five Taliban prisoners to secure the release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who had been held captive in Afghanistan for five years, according to letters released Thursday.

Maya MacGuineas: With members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff arguing for slower growth in military pay as a way to maintain readiness, one might think Congress would quickly adopt their recommendation. Lawmakers, however, ignore military proposals on a range of issues.

Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Wednesday defended changes made in recent years to the security clearance questionnaire, which revised what applicants were asked about mental health treatment.

The nation's top military general warned Monday that America's options for resolving the conflict in Syria are becoming more complex, narrowing the country's ability to influence the outcome in the Middle East.

Syria will be the focus of this Sunday's talk shows. On Saturday, President Barack Obama said he has decided he should order limited military strikes against Syria but agreed to solicit authorization for the mission from Congress. Here are the lineups, provided by the Associated Press.

The embassy closings and new terrorism warning for Americans overseas, as well as Russia's temporary asylum for NSA leaker Edward Snowden, promise to be much discussed on Sunday's political talk shows.